The perfume world loves unisex fragrances. We’ll tell you why

How it happened

Gender stereotypes have had the fragrance industry in their grip for a long time, practically since the birth of modern perfumery in the 19th century. Women’s perfumes were sweet, floral or fruity and came in cute little flacons. Men’s perfumes featured notes of wood, leather or spice, overflowing with masculinity and testosterone. But the worldview is changing. The lines between the genders are fading and there’s an emphasis on individuality and uniqueness. And that’s where unisex perfumes come into play, with their scent being perfect for anyone! 

CK One as the groundbreaker

But let’s give credit where credit is due by mentioning that the first popular unisex perfume was a product of the nineties. Calvin Klein and the CK One fragrance, to be exact. It turned the binary approach to perfumery upside down with a successful bet on something new and original. When this fresh and pure perfume was at its peak, 20 flacons were sold around the world every minute! 

The idea of gender-neutral perfumes proved to have potential, and soon more and more companies started introducing their own. And the trend continues to grow. According to Statista, 17% of all perfumes launched in 2010 were unisex, with an increase of up to over 50% in 2018. 

What gender-neutral smells like

Unisex perfumes want to flirt with everyone. But that doesn’t mean that one size fits all. They combine different, perhaps even unconventional accords and fragrance families to create interesting compositions that appeal to our mood, feelings and senses. 

Popular ingredients include notes of wood, such as sandalwood or cedar, which add to the longevity of the fragrance and create a warm and somewhat mysterious base. 

These woody accords are then paired with the right spicy notes. Vanilla is the number one hit at the moment, but you can also venture into spicier waters with sexy pepper or accentuate the warmth of a perfume with cinnamon or cardamom.

Are you looking for a fresh and vibrant perfume for the summer season? Then head over to the citrus fragrance section. Grapefruit, lime or bergamot will give you a daily boost of energy. While the aquatic notes of salt water, seaweed or water lily will make you feel as though you’re on holiday, surrounded by palm trees. 

And if your perfume heart yearns for something unusual and unexpected, you’ll be mesmerised by the unique character of gourmand notes. All you have to do is choose between smelling like dark chocolate, nuts, a popular dessert or even candyfloss!

But that’s not all. Stereotypes aside, unisex perfumes also come in floral variations, or even feature tobacco and leather.   

Why to opt for fragrance fluidity

Simply knowing that it’s a growing trend this year (and beyond) is a good enough reason for some to throw a unisex perfume into their shopping basket. Do you need more reasons to do the same? Here they are:

• Uniqueness: Out of curiosity, how many of your friends use a unisex perfume? You can probably count them on the fingers of one hand (or maybe you can’t think of a single one). This means that a unisex fragrance also comes with notes of uniqueness. 
• Sharing: Having the same scent as your partner is sexy! And unisex fragrances are the best way to do that, so hop on the same wave. 
• Opinion: Smells can be used to reflect our mood and olfactory preferences, as well as our stance on something. A unisex fragrance can be a huge message to the world around you. It shows that you’re not bound by convention, not afraid to try new things and tired of stereotypes. 
• For daily wear: Not only are there unisex fragrances for everyone, but many of them are also suitable for all seasons and occasions. If you’re not a fan of having 20 perfume bottles on your dressing table, you’ve come to the right place. 

You won’t regret venturing out of your perfume bubble. So give unisex perfumes a chance and you’ll find that the old way isn’t always the best way!